Breech and lock mechanism for single-shot or multiple shot repeating hunting rifles

ABSTRACT

A rifle particularly adapted for hunting has a first unit comprising a frame and a second unit comprising a barrel and breech with these units being slideably attached for longitudinal displacement with respect to each other between open and closed positions. The bolt and hammer assembly is mounted on the frame so as to be operatively engageable with the breech and barrel when both units are in the closed and locked position. A cartridge magazine is pivotally mounted in the frame below the barrel and by a linkage is pivoted to a parallel raised position upon opening of the units so that a cartridge can be removed from the magazine and retained on the bolt head for insertion into the breech. Upon closing of the units the magazine is lowered to its normal resting position.

United States Patent Domhan BREECH AND LOCK MECHANISM FOR SINGLE-SHOT OR MULTIPLE SHOT REPEATING HUNTING RIFLES July 1, 1975 [76] Inventor: Gerold Domhan, Volkerstrasse 28,

7000 Stuttgart l, Germany [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed; Dec, 19, 1973 A rifle particularly adapted for hunting has a first unit comprising a frame and a second unit comprising a [Zn Appl' barrel and breech with these units being slideably attached for longitudinal displacement with respect to [30] Foreign Application Priority Data each other between open and closed positions. The Dec 23 1972 Germany N 2263378 bolt and hammer assembly is mounted on the frame so as to be operatively engageable with the breech and 52 0.3. CI. 42/11; 89/161; 89/168 barrel when both units are in the closed and locked [51] F41C 13/00; F4) 3/00 position. A cartridge magazine is pivotally mounted in 5 Field of Search llllllllll 42 10 1 1- 9 1 1 5 the frame below the barrel and by a linkage is pivoted 89/168 to a parallel raised position upon opening of the units so that a cartridge can be removed from the magazine [56] References Cited and retained on the bolt head for insertion into the UNITED STATES PATENTS breech. Upon closing of the units the magazine is lowered to its normal resting position. 2699,006 H1955 Maerk 1. 42/10 21 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures .ir I 2 a 17/18 2 a2 75 36 7 7 V .ralt'r i 12/ y y.

r i 1 4 Q2 w '11:! -u:-! 1 )6 M; ;;=::.;z1ImQ\au5-I;r 4' 1 m rq wrnwn 1225 "692082 SHEET 3 1 BREECH AND LOCK MECHANISM FOR SINGLE-SHOT OR MULTIPLE SHOT REPEATING HUNTING RIFLES The present invention relates to a breech and lock mechanism for single-shot and multiple-shot repeater rifles such as used in hunting. more particularly, to such a rifle wherein the unlocking and opening as well as the closing and locking of the rifle and the automatic feed of a cartridge into the barrel is effected by limited longitudinal displacement of components of the rifle.

It has been known to provide rifles. particularly adapted for hunting. with a so-called cylinder breech which consists essentially of a chamber which is displaced longitudinally with respect to the barrel and pivoted about its longitudinal axis for the purpose of cocking the hammer. The opening and closing of this breech is accomplished by a laterally extending bolt which is manually manipulated. The automatic ejection of the spent cartridge casing is also accomplished with the opening of the breech. Such cylinder breeches have several disadvantages. one of which is that the bolt handle extends laterally from the outline of the firearm and thus may be accidentally hooked on an object to cause the breech to open and any amunition in the chamber to fall out. At the same time. dirt or other foreign matter may enter into the breech. Chamber locks were then introduced to eliminate this accidental unlocking but such locks required additional components and necessitated an additional manual operation. A further disadvantage is that the cartridge which is pushed from the magazine by a spring during the repeating operation is introduced into the chamber at an angle. As a result. there is considerable jamming of the cartridge with resultant damage to the casing which may subsequently cause jamming or faulty operation of the firearm. Further. the use of the cylinder breech adds to the total length of the firearm.

Firearms have also been constructed in which the barrel is tilted downwardly for the purpose of cocking and loading the weapon. While such a weapon does have the advantages of a slender and trim structure which does not include any projecting levers and is very suitable for carrying. such a firearm does not have the possibility of repeating or automatic action in order to obtain a rapid firing. Accordingly. after every one or two shots the firearm must be opened, cocked, loaded and then closed.

In the pump-action rifle, the front stock is moved forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the barrel by the hand which supports the weapon to permit repeating firing of the weapon. This movement also ejects the empty cartridge casing and loads a new cartridge into the chamber. While such a pump-action firearm is capable of attaining a rapid firing rate. this type of firearm is basically constructed only in the smaller calibers which are not suitable for many hunting purposes. Further. this type of firearm cannot be disassembled with only simple or limited procedures and without the use of tools in order to carry the weapon in a case.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved breech and lock mechanism for sin gle-shot or multiple-shot repeating rifles intended particularly for hunting.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a repeating firearm which eliminates any visible or projecting operating components when the weapon is closed.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide such a firearm which is capable of a high rate of repeating firing and which can be readily disassembled for transport purposes without the use of tools. v According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a breech and lock mechanism for single-shot and multiple-shot repeating rifles for use particularly in hunting which may comprise first and second units longitudinally moveable with respect to each other. The first unit comprises the frame and the second unit comprises the barrel and breech. There are mutually slideably engageable longitudinal guide means on the first and second units below and parallel to the barrel for slideably guiding the units for limited longitudinal movement with respect to each other between open and closed positions of the firearm. A bolt head is mounted on the frame and includes means for retaining the head ofa cartridge thereon. A pair of cylinders are pivotally mounted in the breech for movement between open and closed positions. Each cylinder is provided with means thereon for lockingly engaging the rear portion of the bolt head in the closed position of the units. The cylinders are unlocked from the bolt head when the units are sliding toward the open position. Each cylinder is provided with a laterally extending side bar with both of these bars being engaged under a cross bar in the closed position of the weapon to prevent pivoting of the cylinders during firing.

A cartridge magazine is normally disposed in the frame below the barrel when the units are in the closed position and is pivoted through a linkage system into a raised parallel position upon opening of the units. In the raised position a cartridge is removed from the magazine and retained in the bolt head. Upon closing of the units the magazine is again pivoted downwardly into its normal position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon reference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, which are exemplary. wherein;

FlG. l is a longitudinal sectional view through the firearm incorporating the present invention when the firearm is in the locked and cocked position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing the firearm in the open position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the rear and above and showing the rear structural unit;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 and showing the front structural unit;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the front structural unit looking in the direction of the arrow A of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6-8 are top plan views in enlarged scale of the breech portion of the barrel containing the locking cylinders and showing the positions of the components in the locked, half-opened and open positions;

FIGS. 9-11 are enlarged schematic representations of a section through the weapon in the area of the cartridge magazine while the firearm is closed and open and during rotary movement of the magazine;

FIG. 12 is an end elevational view in enlarged scale of the front portion of the magazine head viewed in the direction of the arrow B;

FIGv 13 is an side elevational view in enlarged scale of the forward magazine head viewed in the direction of the arrow C of FIG. 12; and

FIG. I4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 13 but viewed in the direction of arrow D of FIG. 12 and showing the magazine in the locked position.

Proceeding next to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicate the same parts throughout the various views. a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the firearm of the present invention essentially comprises two selfcontained structural units 1 and 2, which are mounted for limited longitudinal displacement with respect to each other along the direction of the barrel of the rifle. Unit l comprises a frame 3, a bolt portion 4, a cartridge magazine 5 and a rear stock 6 as shown in FIG. 3. The unit 2 comprises a barrel 7 having a breech portion 8 mounted on the end of the barrel and a front stock 9 as shown in FIG. 4.

The firearm is opened and closed by displacing the units 1 and 2 with respect to each other on longitudinal guides extending parallel to the barrel 7 and mounted below the barrel. The unit 2 slides upon a concave surface 11 on a lower curved portion of the breech 8 as may be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Two longitudinally extending slides or cams 12 are provided on each side of the curved portion 10 so as to slide upon the edges of a semicircular central portion 13 of the frame 3. A bearing eye 14 is fixedly mounted on the underside of barrel 7 and slideably receives a cylindrical portion 15 which extends outwardly from the front of the frame 3 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. An end abutment or stop 16 is detachably mounted on the front end of the cylindrical portion 15 and abuts against the bearing eye 14 to limit the longitudinal displacement of structural unit 2 during opening of the firearm.

Within the breech 8 there are pivotally mounted breech cylinders 17 and 18 which are positioned beside each other and are disposed perpendicularly with respect to the direction of displacement of the units 1 and 2. In the closed position of the firearm notched or cutaway portions on the cylinders 17 and 18 defining shoulders lockingly engage rear impact surface 20 of bolt head 19. The cylinders 17 and 18 have laterally extending side bars 21, 22 respectively protruding from their lower portions. The bars 21, 22 are provided with recessed locking projections 23, 24 which are secured and locked in position by cross bar 25 fixedly mounted on the frame 3. This locking of the side bars 21, 22 prevents the breech cylinders 17, 18 from turning during firing of the weapon.

It will be apparent that this structure has the advantage that the surface 20 of bolt head 19 defines the endmost of those components which are stressed during firing of the weapon. As a result, the repeater structure is extremely short in length. Such a relatively short structure has previously not been known. In addition, recoil forces are absorbed centrally with respect to the axis of the barrel directly behind the impact surface 20. Thus, the maximum gas pressures attained during firing are permissible since they do not produce any uncontrollable vibrations or shaking of the weapon during firing and, as a result. do not cause the weapon to jump from the line of sight. This structure can also be constructed of a relatively inexpensive material such as light metals and thermo plastic synthetic resins. Steel may be used in only the most important and most highly stressed components of the weapon which is advantageous in that the over-all weight of the weapon is reduced.

As can be best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 a longitudinally displaceable cylindrical casing 27 is slideably mounted in a rear flattened portion 26 of frame 3. A cam 28 projects upwardly from casing 27 through a longitudinally extending guide slot 29 in the upper surface 30 of the frame 3. A cocking and unlocking slide 32 is slideably mounted on the upper frame surface 30 and is connected to the cam 28 by a pin 31. A laterally extending drive pin 34 is mounted on the side of casing 27 as can be seen in FIG. 3 and passes through a slot 33 in the frame 3. A U-shaped spring has both legs thereof positioned on opposite sides of drive pin 34 so that the legs are pointing in the same direction but act in opposition to each other. The spring 35 thus retains the casing 27 in a central normal or resting position and the casing 27 is always returned to this normal position by the suitable leg of the spring after actuation of the slide 32.

Moving the slide 32 forwardly in the direction of arrow 36 (FIGS. 1 and 2) will cock the weapon immediately before firing. Shifting the slide 32 rearwardly in the direction of the arrow 37 will also shift the casing 27 in the same direction. The casing 27 is provided with a recess 38 on its underside in which is received a rear portion 40' of a locking pawl 40 pivotally mounted on a pin 41 which blocks the bolt portion 4. The recess 38 is provided with a sloping or cam surface 39 which engages the rear portion 40' of lever 40 upon rearward movement of slide 32 to pivot the lever 40 in a clockwise direction and to release the forward end of the lever from a locking pin 42 secured in the frame rear portion 4. The structural unit 2 of the weapon is then released and can be displaced forwardly through a distance or stroke equal to the length of the cartridge plus the breech travel on guides l3, 15 on unit 1 until the displacement is limited by abutment 16. The bolt portion 4 together with the bolt head 19 is also shifted forwardly and is guided by a guide shaft 43 mounted firmly in a flat portion 4' of the bolt. The guide shaft 43 is subjected to the action of a compression spring 43. The bolt 4 together with the bolt flat portion 4' is also guided between cams 25' provided on the cross bar 25 and shown in FIGS. 6-8.

At the same time, the opening of the units 1 and 2 causes the projections 23, 24 of side bars 21, 22 to become released from the cross bar 25. The side bars 21, 22 are provided on their inner ends with notches or jaw openings 44, 45 which receive pins 46 and 47 fixed on a surface 48 below the bolt head 19 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. As a result. the cylinders l7, 18 will be pivoted through an angle of about 90 and the locking engagement between the bolt head 19 and breech 8 is released.

Upon further shifting forwardly of the unit 2, pins 49 positioned laterally and oppositely in the lower curved portion 10 of breech 6 (FIGS. 2 and 5) will slide into notches or recesses 50 of a fork-ended lever 52 pivotally mounted at 51 in the frame 3. This engagement of the pins 49 with the recesses 50 will pivot the lever 52 in a counter-clockwise direction so that a lever arm 53 which is pivotally connected at 54 to a link 55 will drive a lever 56 of a parallel lever drive indicated generally at 57 and normally positioned in the frame as shown in FIG. I. This normal position is within the central portion 13 of the frame 3 under the barrel 7. The pivoting of the link 56 will cause the cartridge magazine 5 to automatically pivot upwardly and rearwardly in a parallel position against bolt head 19 into the position as shown in FIG. 2.

The magazine 5 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 61 which is mounted parallel to the axis of the barrel in mounting heads 59 and 60 and forms the connecting element of the parallel lever drive 57. The magazine is formed of a resilient or elastic material such as a thermo plastic synthetic resin and is shaped in section in the form of a star so that cartridges 62 (indicated by dashed lines) can be snapped into and locked in the individual chambers 63 in a clip-type arrangement. In this particular embodiment there are four cartridge chambers in the magazine but it is to be understood that this number may vary.

When the magazine 5 is pivoted to its upper or loading position as shown in FIG. 2., the pitch circle of the magazine will pass through the center of the bolt head 19 which is provided on its front face 64 facing toward barrel 7 with extractor lips 65 and 66. As can be best seen in FIG. 9. the arcuate lips 65 and 66 have the same center of curvature and this center is located below the bolt head 19 to coincide with the axis of rotation of the magazine when in the raised position as shown in FIGS. and 11.

The magazine 5 is loaded by snapping separately the individual cartridges 62 from the side of the magazine into the individual chambers 63 so that the cartridge casing head 67 contacts an abutment plate 68 fixed on the mounting head 60. A spiral spring 72 is provided concentric with the shaft 61 and is positioned in a bore 71 located in the forward face 69 of the magazine 5 and is also concentric with respect to a bore 70 within which is positioned the shaft 61. The spring 72 is tensioned so as to rotate the magazine one-stop division for each actuation or opening and closing of the weapon.

Upon closing of the weapon by the relative displacement of units 1 and 2 from the position in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 1, the magazine 5 will be pivoted downwardly into a position under the barrel 7 and breech 8 as shown in FIG. 1. The uppermost and last inserted cartridge 62 will be retained in the extractor lips 65, 66 and will be removed from the magazine 5. Upon further longitudinal displacement of the units the cartridge will be inserted by the bolt head 19 in a straight line into chamber 73 of the barrel 7. During firing of the weapon. the bolt head 19 will support the cartridge 62 on its rear face by means of the breech 8 and breech cylinders 17 and 18. The closed and loaded weapon is now locked by the locking engagement of locking pawl 40 over the locking pin 42 in the bolt portion 4.

To fire the weapon. the weapon is cocked by moving the slide 32 in the direction of the arrow 36. The movement of the slide simultaneously moves the cylinder 27 in which is slideably positioned a hammer 74 which is retained in position by a catch lever 76 pivoted at 75 in the bolt portion 4. This blocking of the hammer 74 tensions a compression spring 77 located within the cylinder 27 and acting upon rod 74.

When trigger 78 is pulled in order to fire the weapon, a slideable plunger 79 will be cammed upwardly and will pivot the catch lever 76 in a clockwise direction to release the hammer 74 which, under the action of compression spring 77, impacts with its forward surface 80 against a rear side 81 of firing pin 82. The firing pin 82 acts against a spring 83 and strikes against the percussion cap of cartridge 62 within the chamber 73 to fire the weapon.

For repeating action or automatic firing which is illustrated schematicly in FIGS. 911, the weapon is opened as described above so that the cartridge magazine 5 located under the barrel as shown in FIG. 9 pivots upwardly toward the bolt head 19. The empty chamber 63 of the magazine now receives the empty cartridge casing 62 which has been held between the extractor lips 65, 66 on the bolt head 19. As a result, the noise of ejecting an empty cartridge casing is thus avoided. The magazine 5 pivots automatically to remove the empty cartridge casing 62' from the extractor lips 65, 66 in the direction indicated by the arrow 58' in FIG. 11. The next successive cartridge 62 is then fed into the extractor lips 65, 66 from the opposite side as also shown in FIG. 11. This automatic rotation of the magazine to remove an empty cartridge casing and to position a new cartridge is achieved under the action of the spring 72.

The automatic step-by-step rotation of the magazine 5 is achieved by a control lever fixed on the end of a pin 84 slideably and rotatably retained in a bore in the magazine mounting head 59. The pin 84 is both axially and pivotally mounted by means of a single bent spring shown in FIGS. 12 and 14. A plurality of stop pins 88 are resiliently mounted in bores formed in the forward face 69 of the magazine 5. The stop pins are engageable with a stop plate 87 mounted on the head 59. The control lever 85 is pressed against the stop pins 88 by a finger 86 fixedly attached on the driving lever 56 of the parallel lever drive 57. Upon a pivoting of the magazine 5 to remove an empty cartridge and replace a new cartridge in the bolt head, stop pin 88 will abut against stop plate 87 and will engage laterally against a projecting head 89 of the control lever 85. The lever 85 will thus be shifted axially upon its pin 84 until stop pin 88 contacts stop plate 87. Upon the pivoting of the cartridge magazine 5 and the parallel lever drive 57 into the lowered position upon closing of the weapon. the control lever 85 will also pivot from the area of the stop pins 88 back into its starting position as shown in FIG. 14. Thus, the control lever can again be moved axially back into its plane of action. The pivoting and axial sliding return movement of the control lever 85 are both obtained through the spring 90.

Stop pins 88 are each provided with oblique cam surfaces 91 on the front edge for this purpose so that upon the pivoting of the magazine 5 during loading the pins 88 will slide past stop plate 87 on the mounting head 59. A stop pin 92 functions as an end stop in both directions of rotation of the cartridge magazine 5 and because of its shape is not actuated by the control lever 85. The number of stop pins 88, 92 corresponds to the number of cartridges retained in the magazine. In the present embodiment there are four stop pins but it is to be understood the number of cartridge chambers and stop pins may vary.

During firing of the weapon, the cartridge magazine 5 has already been pivoted automatically under the barrel 7 into the position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9. The weapon is thus always in the firing position during every one of the repeating operations. This assures an extremely rapid rate of firing. In addition, the barrel 7 can be replaced with an interchangeable barrel to permit the firing of other Calibers of amunition and also insertion bores may be employed to permit the firing of smaller caliber amunition. The magazine arrangement, as described above, can also be used for all Calibers of amunition. In addition, a hair-trigger arrangement can be arranged for the trigger device as disclosed.

As can be best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, prismatic guides 94 and 95 are mounted respectively on the barrel at the base of a rear sight 93 and on the upper side of breech 8 for the mounting thereon of a telescopic sight 96 as indicated by the dashed lines. The telescopic sight 96 is mounted at a very small distance above the barrel 7 since there are no projecting operating components from the firearm. The telescopic sight is mounted in an manner known in the art. It is noted that the wide spacing of the guides 94, 95, which is about two-thirds of the length of the telescopic sight, is also a further advantage. It is the simple structure of the firearm according to the present invention with its absence of projecting components which enables this precise and accurate positioning of the telescopic sight.

The end abutment 16 may be in the form of a threaded bolt which can be removed manually, without any tools, to enable the weapon to be readily disassembled into the two structural groups 1 and 2, each of which is of approximately the same size. The units can then be safely transported in a suitable weapons case.

While the present embodiment has been disclosed as a multiple-shot rifle with the use of a cartridge magazine such as at 5, the invention is not limited to such a weapon but can be used also as a single-shot weapon by eliminating the cartridge magazine. Further. for a par ticular purpose the empty cartridge casings can be foreibly ejected in a known manner. In addition, the firearm can be constructed as self-cocking. This can be done by tensioning of the firing pin spring when the two units I and 2 are shifted together into the locked position as shown in FIG. 1.

It is therefore apparent that the firearm according to the present invention possesses numerous advantages and advances over previously known weapons. The firearm is particularly advantageous in that safety in handling of the weapon is substantially increased by the elimination of projecting levers and components, as well as by the compact arrangement and simplified operation of the structural components that co-act to fire the weapon. The concentric introduction of cartridges into the cartridge chamber 73 of the barrel 7 permits careful handling of even the most sensitive cartridges and, in particular, avoids any damage or denting of the tips of the bullets. Damage to the cartridge is thus largely eliminated and the noise of repeating is significantly reduced since empty cartridge casings are not ejected from the weapon but are replaced into the car tridge magazine.

The parts of the weapon which are subjected to the greatest stress during firing form the end of the breech immediately behind the impact surface 20 of the bolt head which results in an extremely short structure of the repeating weapon. In one embodiment of the weapon the length of the firearm was only about one meter. During repeating action of the weapon both hands and the aiming eye remain in the firing position so that one can obtain a substantially faster rate of firing than with known repeating rifles. In the construction of the weapon. considerable use can be made of relatively inexpensive materials such as light metals and thermo plastic synthetic resins. Only the most important and highly stressed components need be made of steel. As a result, the weight of the weapon is reduced substantially by the use of such materials.

By the elimination of the cartridge magazine the structure as described above can also be used for asingle-shot weapon. Barrels of smaller caliber may be inserted and the barrel 7 can be interchanged with another barrel so that the same weapon can be used with different sizes of amunition.

The over-all structure of the weapon according to the present invention permits the telescopic sight 96 to be positioned relatively closely upon the barrel without exerting any disadvantageous effects on the cocking and unloading operations. Further, the guide members upon which the telescopic sight is mounted can be spaced relatively far apart on the breech and that por tion of the barrel upon which the rear sight is mounted. The same magazine structure can be used for all calibers of amunition which are to be used in such a weapon. The weapon can be readily broken down into two structural units of approximately the same size to facilitate transportation and carrying of the weapon in a suitable case.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a breech and lock mechanism for single shot and multiple shot repeating rifles particularly used in hunting, the combination of a first unit comprising a frame and a second unit comprising a barrel having a breech on the end thereof, mutually slideably engageable longitudinal guide means on said first and second units below and parallel to said barrel for slideably guiding said first and second units within limited longitudinal movement with respect to each other between closed and open positions thereof, a bolt head having a rear portion on said frame, a pair of cylinders pivotably mounted in said breech and pivotable between positions corresponding to the open and closed positions of said first and second units, means on said cylinders lockingly engageable with said bolt head rear portion in the closed position of said units and released therefrom when the units are sliding toward the open position thereof, a laterally extending side bar on each of said cylinders, and a cross bar on said frame enclosing said cylinder bars in the closed portion of said units to prevent pivoting of said cylinders during firing of the rifle.

2. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said cylinder said bars has an inner end and a notch therein, and a pair of pins on said frame engageable by said bar notches respectively during the opening and closing of the units to pivot said side bars to release said bolt head rear portion.

3. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim I wherein said breech has a lower portion and means on said lower portion for defining a curved sur face, said frame having an elongated lower portion with an arcuate section slideably positioned on said breech curved surface, a pair of longitudinal guide cams on said breech slidingly engaging the edges of said frame arcuate section. a bearing eye on said barrel. and a cylindrical rod extending from said frame and slideably guided in said bearing eye.

4. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 1 and a bolt having a flat portion mounted on said frame and displaceable toward said barrel. said bolt head fixed upon said bolt flat portion. a firing pin resiliently disposed in said bolt flat portion. a locking pin on said bolt flat portion disposed transversely to the direction of displacement of said bolt. a guide shaft longitudinally mounted in said bolt flat portion and a compression spring acting upon said guide shaft in the direction of displacement of said bolt. and a pair of guide cams on said cross bar to guide said bolt flat portion therebetween.

5. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim I wherein said bolt head is cylindrical. a pair of spaced arcuate lips on said bolt head directed toward said barrel for gripping a cartridge to be inserted into the barrel. said lips each having the same center of curvature which is located below said bolt head.

6. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 4. and said frame having a rear portion and a locking pawl pivotally mounted on said frame rear portion to retain said bolt in the closed position.

7. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 1, and said frame having a rear portion and an upper surface. a cylindrical casing displaceably mounted in said frame rear portion and moveable longitudinally therein. a cam on said casing. there being a slot in said frame upper surface through which said cam protrudes.

8. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 7, and a cocking slide slideably mounted on said upper surface of the frame and operatively connected to said cam.

9. ln a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 8. and a U-shaped spring on one side of said frame connected to said cylindrical casing to urge said casing and cocking slide into a central position.

10. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 8 and said frame having a rear portion and a locking pawl pivotally mounted on said frame rear portion to retain said bolt in the closed position. there is a recess in said casing to receive the rear portion of said locking pawl when said pawl is engaged with said locking pin. the recess being such that upon moving the cocking slide to the unlocked position the pawl rear portion will be pivoted to release the pawl from said locking pin.

11. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 4 said frame having a rear portion and an upper surface. a cylindrical casing displaceably mounted in said frame rear portion and moveable longitudinally therein. and a hammer within said cylindrical casing resiliently urged outwardly to be engageable with said fir ing pin.

12. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim I] and a blocking lever pivotally mounted on said bolt flat portion and engageable with said hammer in the cocked position of said hammer and cylindrical casing to block said hammer.

13. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 1 and prismatic guide means on said breech and on said barrel forwardly of said breech for detachably receiving thereon a telescopic sight.

l4. ln a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 1 and a cartridge magazine within said frame, parallel lever means pivotally mounting said magazine within said frame for supporting said magazine under said barrel in the closed position of the rifle and for pivoting said magazine into a parallel raised position when said rifle is opened.

15. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 14 wherein said magazine is of a resilient material and has a plurality of chambers opening outwardly to permit the snap insertion of cartridges therein.

16. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 15 and a pair of heads connected on said parallel lever means and a shaft connecting said heads. said magazine being rotatably mounted on said shaft.

17. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 16 wherein there is an axial bore at one end of said magazine concentric to said mounting shaft. spring means within said bore around said shaft to urge rotation of said magazine and being tensioned on rotation of the magazine during loading.

18. [n a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 16 and a plurality of stop pins one less than the plurality of magazine chambers and an end stop pin in the end of said magazine towards said barrel resiliently longitudinally displaceable therein. said stop pins each having an oblique cam surface portion on an end thereof. said end stop pin stopping rotation of said magazine in both directions thereof.

19. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 18 and a pin mounted for axial and pivoting movement in one of said heads. spring means acting upon said moveable pin to urge axial and pivotal movement thereof. a control lever fixed upon said pin and engageable with said stop pins, and means on said parallel lever means acting upon said control lever to pivot the same during movement of the lever means to the raised position of said magazine upon opening of the rifle.

20. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 16 and a forked-end lever pivotally mounted within said frame, pin means on said barrel engageable by said forked-end lever, and linkage means between said forked-end lever and said parallel lever means for pivoting said parallel lever means upon engagement of said pin means with said forked-end lever upon opening and closing of the rifle.

21. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 20 wherein said linkage means comprises a link pivotally connected at one end to one end of said forked-end lever and pivotally connected at its other end to one of said heads to transmit a pivotal movement of said forkedend lever to said parallel lever means. 

1. In a breech and lock mechanism for single shot and multiple shot repeating rifles particularly used in hunting, the combination of a first unit comprising a frame and a second unit comprising a barrel having a breech on the end thereof, mutually slideably engageable longitudinal guide means on said first and second units below and parallel to said barrel for slideably guiding said first and second units within limited longitudinal movement with respect to each other between closed and open positions thereof, a bolt head having a rear portion on said frame, a pair of cylinders pivotably mounted in said breech and pivotable between positions corresponding to the open and closed positions of said first and second units, means on said cylinders lockingly engageable with said bolt head rear portion in the closed position of said units and released therefrom when the units are sliding toward the open position thereof, a laterally extending side bar on each of said cylinders, and a cross bar on said frame enclosing said cylinder bars in the closed portion of said units to prevent pivoting of said cylinders during firing of the rifle.
 2. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said cylinder said bars has an inner end and a notch therein, and a pair of pins on said frame engageable by said bar notches respectively during the opening and closing of the units to pivot said side bars to release said bolt head rear portion.
 3. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said breech has a lower portion and means on said lower portion for defining a curved surface, said frame having an elongated lower portion with an arcuate section slideably positioned on said breech curved surface, a pair of longitudinal guide cams on said breech slidingly engaging the edges of said frame arcuate section, a bearing eye on said barrel, and a cylindrical rod extending from said frame and slideably guided in said bearing eye.
 4. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 1 and a bolt having a flat portion mounted on said frame and displaceable toward said barrel, said bolt head fixed upon said bolt flat portion, a firing pin resiliently disposed in said bolt flat portion, a locking pin on said bolt flat portion disposed transversely to the direction of displacement of said bolt, a guide shaft longitudinally mounted in said bolt flat portion and a compression spring acting upon said guide shaft in the direction of displacement of said bolt, and a pair of guide cams on said cross bar to guide said bolt flat portion therebetween.
 5. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bolt head is cylindrical, a pair of spaced arcuate lips on said bolt head directed toward said barrel for gripping a cartridge to be inserted into the barrel, said lips each having the same center of curvature which is located below said bolt head.
 6. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 4, and said frame having a rear portion and a locking pawl pivotally mounted on said frame rear portion to retain said bolt in the closed position.
 7. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 1, and said frame having a rear portion and an upper surface, a cylindrical casing displaceably mounted in said frame rear portion and moveable longitudinally therein, a cam on said casing, there being a slot in said frame upper surface through which said cam protrudes.
 8. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 7, and a cocking slide slideably mounted on said upper surface of the frame and operatively connected to said cam.
 9. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 8, and a U-shaped spring on one side of said frame connected to said cylindrical casing to urge said casing and cocking slide into a central position.
 10. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 8 and said frame having a rear portion and a locking pawl pivotally mounted on said frame rear portion to retain said bolt in the closed position, there is a recess in said casing to receive the rear portion of said locking pawl when said pawl is engaged with said locking pin, the recess being such that upon moving the cocking slide to the unlocked position the pawl rear portion will be pivoted to release the pawl from said locking pin.
 11. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 4 said frame having a rear portion and an upper surface, a cylindrical casing displaceably mounted in said frame rear portion and moveable longitudinally therein, and a hammer within said cylindrical casing resiliently urged outwardly to be engageable with said firing pin.
 12. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 11 and a blocking lever pivotally mounted on said bolt flat portion and engageable with said hammer in the cocked position of said hammer and cylindrical casing to block said hammer.
 13. In a breech and lock mEchanism as claimed in claim 1 and prismatic guide means on said breech and on said barrel forwardly of said breech for detachably receiving thereon a telescopic sight.
 14. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 1 and a cartridge magazine within said frame, parallel lever means pivotally mounting said magazine within said frame for supporting said magazine under said barrel in the closed position of the rifle and for pivoting said magazine into a parallel raised position when said rifle is opened.
 15. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 14 wherein said magazine is of a resilient material and has a plurality of chambers opening outwardly to permit the snap insertion of cartridges therein.
 16. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 15 and a pair of heads connected on said parallel lever means and a shaft connecting said heads, said magazine being rotatably mounted on said shaft.
 17. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 16 wherein there is an axial bore at one end of said magazine concentric to said mounting shaft, spring means within said bore around said shaft to urge rotation of said magazine and being tensioned on rotation of the magazine during loading.
 18. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 16 and a plurality of stop pins one less than the plurality of magazine chambers and an end stop pin in the end of said magazine towards said barrel resiliently longitudinally displaceable therein, said stop pins each having an oblique cam surface portion on an end thereof, said end stop pin stopping rotation of said magazine in both directions thereof.
 19. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 18 and a pin mounted for axial and pivoting movement in one of said heads, spring means acting upon said moveable pin to urge axial and pivotal movement thereof, a control lever fixed upon said pin and engageable with said stop pins, and means on said parallel lever means acting upon said control lever to pivot the same during movement of the lever means to the raised position of said magazine upon opening of the rifle.
 20. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 16 and a forked-end lever pivotally mounted within said frame, pin means on said barrel engageable by said forked-end lever, and linkage means between said forked-end lever and said parallel lever means for pivoting said parallel lever means upon engagement of said pin means with said forked-end lever upon opening and closing of the rifle.
 21. In a breech and lock mechanism as claimed in claim 20 wherein said linkage means comprises a link pivotally connected at one end to one end of said forked-end lever and pivotally connected at its other end to one of said heads to transmit a pivotal movement of said forked-end lever to said parallel lever means. 